VIDEO games should encourage kids to go outside and take a break from screens, according to new guidance.
The Information Commissioner’s Office today released new recommendations for gaming developers in an effort to protect children.
GettyNew guidance says developers should ensure video games encourage kids to go outside and take a break from screens after they’ve been playing for too long[/caption]
Government figures show a whopping 93% of kids in the UK play video games.
Younger children tend to game for an average of 2-3 hours per day, while older kids play around 3 or more.
The ICO today said video games must never be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of young people.
Its Children’s Code guidance recommends “age-appropriate warnings” for players to step away from screens after an extended session.
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And developers should make sure kids don’t feel pressured to play for prolonged periods out of fear they’ll miss out on rewards or progress.
The ICO wants game designers to identify if players are aged below 18 “with a reasonable degree of certainty”, and put measures in place to stop kids lying about their age.
And it said companies shouldn’t use “nudge techniques” to encourage children to make poor privacy decisions.
This could include having to make a social media account in order to not miss out on extra features or rewards, or being forced to review games on platforms such as Instagram.
Leanne Doherty, Group Manager at the Information Commissioner’s Office, said: “Gaming plays a central part in so many young people’s lives, and the community and interaction around games can be a child’s first steps into the digital world.
“We want those first experiences to be positive ones, and the recommendations we’ve published today are there to support game developers.”
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She added: “The Children’s Code makes clear that children are not like adults online, and their data needs greater protections.
“We want children to be online, learning, playing and experiencing the world, but with the right protections in place to do so.”